Odisha Govt Increases Monthly Honorarium for Padma Awardees to ₹30,000

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced an enhanced monthly honorarium of ₹30,000 for the recipients of Padma Awards from the state. This new provision, effective from January 2025, reflects the state’s recognition of the invaluable contributions of its Padma awardees across various fields.

The Odia Language, Literature, and Culture Department issued a notification on Thursday, stating, “Keeping in view the outstanding contributions of the Padma awardees of the state towards society in various fields, the state government has decided to provide an honorarium of ₹30,000 per month to them.”

The honorarium will be disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring a streamlined and transparent process. District Collectors and District Cultural Officers have been directed to compile and submit details of the living Padma awardees in their respective regions promptly.

This decision follows a previous announcement made by the then Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government in March 2024, which set the honorarium at ₹25,000 per month. The latest increase highlights the Odisha government’s continued commitment to honoring the contributions of these eminent individuals.

The Padma Awards, one of India’s highest civilian honors, are conferred annually in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, recognizing distinguished service in fields such as Arts, Literature, Education, Social Work, Medical Science, Engineering, and more.

Since the awards’ inception in 1954, 106 individuals from Odisha have been honored with Padma Awards, bringing pride and recognition to the state. These awardees have made significant contributions in their respective fields, enriching the cultural and intellectual heritage of Odisha and the nation.